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Sunday Runday
On this weekly column, Android Central Wearables Editor Michael Hicks talks in regards to the world of wearables, apps, and health tech associated to working and well being, in his quest to get sooner and healthier.
I am not snug reviewing my Garmin Fenix 8 but. It is Garmin’s most densely packed watch but, with sufficient options that it will take me a pair extra weeks to present them justice. However after years testing $400-ish Garmin watches and ready years for my first Fenix, the Fenix 8 hasn’t absolutely lived as much as my sky-high expectations.
I obtained and unboxed my Garmin Fenix 8 later than most, nonetheless getting my bearings whereas Fenix 8 house owners seen it crashing in cold water or exhibiting thousand-hour naps (or naps once they weren’t napping). Irritated Garmin discussion board customers noticed a bevy of other software issues, some area of interest however others widespread.
By October, the Fenix 8 had obtained some helpful patches, however I nonetheless encountered issues like enter lag when navigating the primary UI. Once I tried to finish a two-mile stroll exercise, the watch froze on the “Saving” display for hours and refused to manufacturing facility reset till I plugged it into my pc. Then, the battery drained at an insane charge (about 85% in below two days) till I charged and restarted it.
Issues have calmed down for me since then, each for battery life and normal navigation. However it nonetheless appears evident that Garmin should have been on a time crunch to launch the Fenix 8 on schedule — probably shareholder-related issues — given the variety of Fenix 8 glitches that went unresolved till after launch. And that is not an important look once you’re charging extra money than another health watch model and far more than the Fenix 7 sequence (which began at $799).
I will level out now that I like the Fenix 8 so far. For starters, the revamped UI improves on what I noticed on the Garmin Venu 3 final yr, significantly seeing advised exercises and programs straight below the exercise begin menu. I respect the AMOLED/MIP choices so you may prioritize battery life or higher visible high quality. And regardless of the plastic-to-titanium swap, my 47mm unit would not really feel overly heavy at 73g.
When it comes to new features, the Fenix 8 added energy teaching to Garmin Coach about six months after I wrote a bit demanding Garmin make indoor workouts better with tailor-made solutions. As a runner, I am nonetheless easing into energy coaching, however it’s already a step over what most health watches provide for reps and newbie steerage.
You additionally get a microphone and speaker linked to an offline voice assistant, which is not restricted to passthrough instructions to your smartphone. You maintain down the Begin button, say a easy command like “Begin a Voice Observe” or “Present me the climate as we speak,” and see the related app or widget in a couple of seconds. I nonetheless suggest utilizing watch face shortcuts to drag up related knowledge for the reason that processing is a bit gradual, however it helps keep away from looking out via menus.
Whereas I normally depend on AllTrails on my telephone for choosing mountaineering trails upfront, Garmin’s new round-trip routes let me search for alternate aspect trails that’ll take the identical period of time however let me try new surroundings, and it is a good change of tempo!
Plus, you get the identical revamped well being sensor suite because the Venu 3, related dive options to the Descent MK3 with leak-proof {hardware}, dual-band GPS accuracy to match the most effective Forerunner watches, and a built-in flashlight that is fairly just like the one I examined within the Instinct 2X Solar. Its 17-day battery life is not a lot greater than different Garmin watches, however its 35-hour multi-band monitoring is great.
Once more, these are welcome additions! Garmin threw all the pieces it had into one titanium package deal, so you may go from mountaineering to working to diving to snowboarding to {golfing} and have just about all the pieces you want.
However I deliver up previous Garmin watches as a result of many of those outdated options really feel just about similar to the cheaper watches. For instance, the Fenix 8 LED is good for emergencies however not particularly brilliant, burns via your complete battery in a couple of hours, and makes you maintain your wrist at an unnatural angle to light up what’s in entrance of you — similar to the Intuition 2X Photo voltaic flashlight.
The Fenix’s new mic and speaker allow impromptu calls with out grabbing your telephone, however similar to the Venu 3 and Venu 2 Plus, you will sound quiet on the opposite finish, and you could want to carry the speaker near your ear if you happen to’re anyplace loud.
I am not a big fan of MIP displays, so I am absolutely on board with the AMOLED swap. That stated, it has the identical dimension and PPI because the Venu 3 or Forerunner 965 shows, and I suppose the brightness and refresh charge are similar, too. Specifically, I dislike the little delay you see when scrolling via widgets with the touchscreen.
When it comes to accuracy, the Fenix 8 GPS has been predictably hyper-accurate so far, however that additionally applies throughout the board right down to the $350 Forerunner 255 with dual-band monitoring. And whereas its coronary heart charge monitoring did excellently towards my COROS optical armband in most circumstances, matching its common and maintaining with fast HR modifications, it has the identical infuriating subject as my Forerunner 965: Once I begin a tough observe run with out ramping up, it will spend the primary lap failing to register my sooner coronary heart charge by about 20–30 bpm, forcing me to pause and provides the Fenix 8 time to search out the right knowledge and skewing my cardio/ anaerobic load totals.
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I believe many well-off Fenix 8 patrons select the flagship model as a mixture standing image and catch-all health software. They like its titanium type and that it can deal with each sport below the solar, even when they solely go diving or snowboarding every year throughout holidays and largely run, bike, or hike with it. Higher to have and never want than want and never have, proper?
In my case, the Fenix 8 could find yourself being my favourite Garmin watch as a result of it collects the most effective bits from the Forerunner, Venu, and Intuition lineups. However is that sufficient to say the Fenix 8 is “well worth the worth,” as a number of present Fenix 8 evaluations say?
The Garmin Fenix 8 is not an inexpensive watch, however it’s finally as much as you to find out whether or not it is well worth the excessive price ticket.
When journalists and tech YouTubers say a tool is so good that they’d spend $1,000+ on it, they in all probability imply it. However they did not; they acquired it at no cost. We usually strive to not let that influence our suggestions, and there is not any strain to justify or nitpick an costly buy like common shoppers really feel. However it’s nonetheless arduous to say if one thing is “too costly” when your funds is not affected.
Once I reviewed costly smartwatches just like the $650 Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra or $800 Apple Watch Ultra 2, I needed to fastidiously choose their true worth when you may spend half as a lot on their siblings and get many of the similar options (just like the Fenix 8). They’re nice watches however too costly for many individuals, and the Fenix 8 deserves that scrutiny, too.
One level in Apple and Samsung’s favor was that their flagship watches have been technically “standalone” due to built-in LTE help. Since Garmin hasn’t supplied LTE exterior of the Forerunner 945 LTE and Bounce LTE for youths, your Fenix 8 nonetheless has your short-lived smartphone as a ache level for staying in contact on lengthy excursions.
In my case, the Fenix 8 is very good to have, particularly the brand new navigation options. However I do not “want” it, and if I have been searching for the best Garmin watch for my wants, it would be arduous to justify spending that additional $500 for streamlined software program, voice instructions, and dynamic routing when the $600 Forerunner 965 has many of the similar necessities.
I’ve overestimated the Fenix in my head for some time, and an $1,100 price ticket implies a sure degree of greatness. However the acquainted tech, buggy launch, and lack of emergency mobile mixed with that worth are sufficient to offset barely simply how unbelievable a fitness watch that is.
Received a grand? Nice!
When you really need the “finest” Garmin watch, that is it. It is long-lasting, has essentially the most superior Garmin software program throughout each main sporting kind, lasts a pair weeks per cost regardless of the additional smarts, and appears nice doing it. Simply…effectively, make certain you even have the cash for the Fenix 8! You may be completely proud of a Forerunner or Venu at half the value if you happen to do not want all the pieces and the kitchen sink.
